The Paris Bourse was slightly down 0.10% on Friday, where the listing will last only half a session as is customary on December 24, in reduced trading volumes.
The flagship CAC 40 index fell 6.87 points to 7,099.28 points around 9:15 am. As of Thursday, it had risen 0.77%, its third consecutive increase.
US markets are closed on Friday but rose sharply on Thursday, with the S&P 500 breaking its all-time high for the 68th time this year.
In Europe, among the main financial centers, only the one in London will be open, also for half a day.
In Asia, the Tokyo Stock Exchange ended stable (-0.05%).
After the fright at the opening Monday on the Omicron variant, the spread of which has led to restriction measures around the world, investors are watching the advance of the virus with more serenity.
In particular, new studies have shown that the risk of hospitalization is lower than with previous forms of the coronavirus, even if its faster spread could put health systems under strain.
“The markets continue to sweep the impact of Omicron because that’s what they want to hear, and US economic data released Thursday presented solid results,” said Jeffrey Halley, analyst for Oanda.
During the holiday season, in the absence of a large number of asset managers, liquidity decreases, which can exacerbate any movements in the equity market.
Valneva hopes for a new contract
The Franco-Austrian laboratory spoke on Thursday of the “possible supply” of doses of its candidate vaccine against Covid-19 to Scotland, whose development agency should finance the extension of its Livingston plant to the tune of several million pounds. Valenva rose 1.03% to 25.58 euros.
Lysogene obtains a European loan
The biopharmaceutical company Lysogene announced on Friday a loan agreement of 15 million euros with the European Investment Bank for “the development of its gene therapy platform”, including a first tranche of 3 million without conditions. The title flew 11.02% to 2.07 euros.
Icade enters Portugal
The healthcare subsidiary of the real estate group Icade (+ 0.40% to 63.10 euros) announced on Thursday the acquisition of four private hospitals in Portugal, its first investment in the country
EssilorLuxottica and GrandVision continue their merger
EssilorLuxottica (-0.55% to 185.20 euros) and GrandVision announced on Thursday the sale of 142 stores in the Netherlands and 35 in Belgium, for an undisclosed amount, in accordance with the commitments made to the European Commission during the validation of their marriage.
fs / jnd / spi